It would be nice if I would get notified when there are replies to a thread that I start or am involved with (And I did check the option), but that is something completely different.

Oh, I know what I am in for. Several decades of backcountry and elevation experience. Up until last year, I really had a decade of just camping/mountain biking or simply bikepacking. Then, last year, I decided I wanted to get back to the places bikes aren't allowed and got back to hiking and backpacking.

Though there was a trip in the Fall (High Uinta Wilderness in Utah) that had to be cancelled due to a major project at work (and that might get done this Fall, unless I do decide to get back to the Sawtooth Wilderness in Idaho, instead), I had an active Spring 2014 which included Zion and Bryce Canyon solo backpacking, leading up to a similar solo Summer kickoff in Yosemite.

On that trip, I did just under 100 miles thru the first week of Summer, doing a loop of: Tuolumne Meadows, Vogelsang, Lewis Creek, Lyell fork of the Merced, High Elevation Trail toward Isberg Peak, across the Merced headwaters, up to Red Peak Pass, down to Ottaway Lakes, bushwacking up near Starr King Lake, bushwacking down to join up with Panorama Trail and the JMT to Happy Isles and a bus ride to Curry Village for beers. Then, up to Mirror Lake and the 2500' gain with 107 switchbacks in a little over 2 miles up Snow Creek trail, up towards Mt Watson, down to Tenaya Lake, up to Sunrise Lakes, thru Long Meadow, the Cathedral Basin and back to Toulumne Meadows.

The Pate Valley/Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne will likely be hot and a little difficult, but 3500' gain (with ups and downs) over 13 or so miles is much easier than the brutality of the climb up the Snow Creek switchbacks last year. And that was the same thing, 4 1/2 days in 50-60 daytime degree weather, then getting to The Valley and 90s, then having to do the climbing at the end of a long day! At least on going up the Tuolumne, there will be plenty of options to drop the pack and either cool off in the river or side pools from feeder streams. That is quite the morale and energy boost, just like jumping into the Merced at Happy Isles was last year!

Yes, more than most would want to do, but still a walk in the park for many. To me, just a good way to spend a week of vacation from work.

Seriously, I am 49 going on 29. And I will be 50 in October. I know I've lost that half-step that would be the end for many a professional athlete, but I'm doing bigger and badder than I did when I was 29, and I can still put to shame most in that lower age range. Just want to have all the fun I can while I can, after that, I get a quad and cover more distance with less effort!

So, anyway, the following pics show this years route in red and last years route in blue. Then each route with its elevation profile. Last year was 92 miles for the main loop. Google Earth has a way of shortening any GPS track. I know my Garmin GPSMap 60CSX accurate, GE, not so much.

P.S. Got plenty of photos, along with routes and profiles of last years trip if you look at my photos on : https://picasaweb.google.com/dirtypursuits

[img]https://picasaweb.google.com/106592207314383302037/MiscStuff#6131192794300310098[/img]

[img]https://picasaweb.google.com/106592207314383302037/MiscStuff#6131192793183494450[/img]

[img]https://picasaweb.google.com/106592207314383302037/MiscStuff#6131192797373609314[/img]